Device and method for cutting insulation

Abstract

An insulation cutter for a liner application machine in an assembly line and method of operation that cuts an insulative thermal blanket by stopping the liner application machine momentarily to allow for a rotary cutter to traverse the width of the belt (and the width of the thermal insulation blanket) and potentially return back to its original position. The machine is then restarted and allowed to continue to feed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for cutting an insulative thermal blanket during assembly of lined ductwork, the method comprising:
 providing a liner application machine for joining an insulative thermal blanket to a piece of metal ductwork, the machine including:
 a frame; 
 a conveyor belt disposed on said frame; 
 a shear assembly located on said frame, said shear assembly including:
 a cutting mechanism including a motorized rotary blade which is configured to traverse a path across said conveyor belt; 
 a stopping mechanism, located at a terminal end of said path, said stopping mechanism detecting if said cutting mechanism is present at said terminal end by said cutting mechanism contacting said stopping mechanism; and 
 a computer controller; 
 
 
 moving said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine; 
 moving said metal ductwork through said liner application machine; 
 said computer controller stopping motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine; 
 after said motion is stopped, cutting said insulative thermal blanket with said cutting mechanism by said cutting mechanism traversing said path until said cutting mechanism is stopped by said stopping mechanism; and 
 after said insulative thermal blanket is cut, said computer controller restarting motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 when said computer controller stops motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine, said computer controller also stops motion of said piece of metal ductwork through said liner application machine; and 
 when said computer controller restarts motion of said insulative thermal blanket through said liner application machine, said computer controller also restarts motion of said piece of metal ductwork through said liner application machine. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting said insulative thermal blanket with said cutting mechanism comprises: said cutting mechanism crossing said conveyor belt only a single time. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cutting said insulative thermal blanket with said cutting mechanism comprises: said cutting mechanism crossing said conveyor belt multiple times. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said multiple times comprises crossing once in a first direction and once in a reverse direction.